Can an Internet Marketer Have Success Without Proper Target Market Selection?
Many corporate professionals are hoping to leave their corporate jobs and start an internet marketing business. Not only do they want to know how to start a business, they also want to know how to get prospects.
Some have already started their marketing campaign. But they are getting little response.
So here is the first question you need to ask yourself. “What group of people are you marketing to? Have you made a target market selection?”
I was recently coaching a representative in a skin care business. I asked her who her target market was. She told me that everyone was her prospect. Everyone has skin.
That distributor will have a very difficult time being successful marketing to that huge group of people. Finding a much smaller market is very important in order to attract prospects.
The reason for this is fairly obvious. The people who have an interest in what you have to offer must be able to find you. You will never be found in such a large market, all people who have skin.
Here is a second major point. If you are addressing a large market, how do you know what they are looking for?
You may have the best skin care line on the planet. Unfortunately, most people have absolutely no interest in your products.
Even those that have a need for your product will most likely not buy from you. Why should they? There are many other websites out there offering the same thing.
Your potential customer wants to find someone who understands her skin problem and can give her solutions.
The skin care market consists of many target or niche markets. Your target market should be small enough so there is limited competition. On the other hand, it must be large enough to have income potential. For example, here are three target markets.
1. This market has tried many skin care products that have failed to provide the results they are looking for. 2. This market consists of people who have a specific skin condition. They are looking for someone who understands their situation and can solve their problem. 3. This market consists of baby boomers. They are looking for products that can solve their aging skin problem. How do you stand out from all the other anti-aging skin products that are being promoted on the internet?
Obviously, you need to make a narrow target market selection in order to be successful. You must take an educational approach to your marketing - never promotional. What are we trying to accomplish here?
First of all, you will find far less competition in a fairly narrow niche market.
Second, you must determine exactly what your market is looking for.
What are their concerns? What are their needs? What are their problems? What are their fears? What keeps them up at night? What are their dreams?
Your marketing campaign and your blog or website should give your prospect the answers to their problems and questions. It should show that their dreams can be attained. Where do you go to find out the needs of your niche market?
Go where the people in your target market hang out. Find blogs, forums, or message boards related to your niche market. Here you can find out what questions are being asked and those that are not being answered properly. Go online and search for keywords related to your niche market. Find gaps or issues that are not being properly addressed. This research takes time but is very beneficial.
A great way to learn the needs of your potential customer is to ask them directly what problems they need to have solved.
In order to be successful, you must know exactly what your prospect wants and needs. If you address these wants and needs through educational marketing, you will attract them.
It’s very important that you provide solutions to your prospects’ problems. This type of educational marketing will attract the prospect to your blog or website.
Here is my suggestion. Make a list of several possible target markets. Then select only one to address first. Hold onto the list of the markets you did not choose. You can very possibly market to those groups later.
As you do your target market selection, look for the desires of your market. Look for missing products. Look for trends and popular movements. Then choose one target market. Address these desires, these products, or these trends.
His internet marketing business has enabled Scott Hubbard to retire from his Chief Financial Officer position of 25 years in corporate America. He now assists corporate professionals and network marketers in developing their own “guide to retirement” plan.
categories: target market selection,target markets,niche market,niche markets,guide to retirement plan,qualified leads,generate leads,generate qualified leads,internet marketing training,lead generation,qualified leads
Tags: generate leads, generate qualified leads, guide to retirement plan, internet marketing training, lead generation, niche market, niche markets, qualified leads, target market selection, target markets